Bman

Another issue to consider when using a kayak during generation, big high powered Bass boats will be out running the upper end. Kayaks lay so low to the water they are easy to over look. Especially if fog sets in.

WOW Now that's a fish! Awesome!

I made a quick Monday afternoon trip to scout the park conditions. The numbers of trout in the springs are up, and some decent sizes too. I didn’t see any real lunkers, but a fellow fly fisherman told me he caught and released a 6 pounder recently. The trout aren’t going in circles yet. But spawning time is right around the corner. My best luck was had fishing da midge!

Yes we have, all the time. I'm always very careful to make sure there are no boats of any kind in the area. Or Kayaks! The way they ride so low, and with even a thin film of fog on the water, they could be hard to see! So I make sure it's clear, then with about 2 units +- the islands are a creative way around.

You got it! It would be fun, especially on a hot day. That Gator has trim on that jet! He can throw a roost outa this world! We could take Gator up our way around, and through the trees on the semi submerged islands in the trophy area above Look Out Point.

Sounds good to me Gator! I would love to make a run to the cable at Taney with 0 units, but because of the folks wading I don't think thats gonna happen.

It was an honor and a privilege to meet you again on the water. I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of new records, and personal goals. Tight lines

Al, Thanks for your post. Reading that was almost as good as being there with you.

Dittos.

Sweet

I had a couple of trips to Taney in July, and noticed the same thing Rick. Let’s hope this fall will be one for the record books. I hope a hurricane doesn’t blow straight up from the Gulf and give us flood gates again!

Ditto's For the fly rod I swear by Rio's tippett.

Thanks Eric, It's like a 18-1/2 ft Jet Ski...on steroids.

The GF wanted to go fishing from the River Pro today some we went early to the Eureka Allenton ramp on the Meramec River. The vis was only a few inches deep must have happened from the rains a few days ago. The river was plenty shallow and tricky because the water being as stained as it is hides a lot of shallow shoals. A lot of gravel was showing otherwise. Fishing? I got skunked! I had one Bass of fair size messing around with the Fluke I was throwing, and had 1 other take me into wood and wrap my line before I could get him through the logs. Otherwise, zip! Donna caught a few of her “Sunnies” on her Beetle Spins. We did see an Eagle going upstream, awesome! Otherwise was a fun time, and cooler out running the River Pro. We only saw 2 other jet boats just before we went back to the ramp and 1 canoe up toward the Pacific Palisades ramp. When we saw the canoe, we turned back so we wouldn’t bother them. I should have gone back wading at the prievious weeks "honey hole" but management wanted to take a boat ride.

Good luck with your new rod, hope you stick a big one with it!

I have 2 St Croix rods, a 5wt and 4wt both are Legend Elite's. That 5wt is my go to rod for taming big Browns. Nothing wrong with the 4 pc. You always want to cast the rod before purchase if possible.

Cardiac is a long hot hike if you're wearing waders. In my younger day I always went up/down suicide. Fall fishing? Remember that Trout are called upstream during that time of year.

That fly came straight from leonards hand, so direct any questions to Leonard who posts mostly on the Tanneycomo section of this web site. He invented it, he tied it. This version was something I requested.

I don't blame anyone being skeptical, I would be too. I've seen a good number of 20" Smallies this year. I know Mitch saw a 21" brought to hand by the Guru this year. I saw two yesterday that dwarfed all others. After releasing a 17" yesterday, and watching it swim back into the area with these others, I got a good perspective. Mitch f was right in his comment," There's probably only a handful of days in your fishing life like that one!" That's exactly what I was thinking at the moment. You never know when you are going to get hit by one of those golden moments. Too bad I couldn't bring one to hand for a quick measurement, and too bad my best fishing buddy my son wasn't there with me. I will be back, soon. I just hope someone doesn't discover this spot and clean it out.

What a Toad!

Somewhere on an Ozark stream. The hot dry days of August find the rivers lower and clearer, perfect for sight fishing and hunting for bigger fish. Today, for me was such a day. I love to wet wade these hot days of August with lower flows and clear water. I love to sight fish for the big ones. In about 8 weeks I will hopefully be sight fishing for big Browns in the 20+ pound class. Today was a day for big trophy sized Smalles! Much to my surprise and delight. I set out on foot with my StCroix 5wt hoping to find some fish to work on. I was out of the water walking a high bank carefully studying the water approaching a known "honey hole" when I suddenly froze in my tracks! A whole school of big fish! I looked very closely, there's a big Drum, there's another one. Then I saw them. I counted no less than 12 Smallmouth Bass 17" -23" yes two of them were in the 23 inch class! Huge Smallies! I dug in my pack for the 4x tippet. Dang it! The spool was empty! I had some 5x tippet so I tied that on. Then a weighted PMS thanks Leonard! The pms was the ticket as the first cast brought this nice Smallie to hand. The take was awesome! After letting the streamer sink the action caught a nice Smallies attention and the fish turned the vacuum on, and "stick' went the PMS. I didn't bring the biggest to hand, but I caught 6 awesome Smallies out of that hole on a 5wt fly rod. What a blast. All were returned in great shape to fight another day. I will be back, hopefully with my son Matt. I was by myself, so pictures were hard to do, but I did manage a couple of decent pics. This is the fly they were taking. Our own leonard's PMS! Thanks Leonard!

Phil, Thanks for the report. I'm counting the days to my next Taney trip! I'm wondering about another topic you started a while ago about wind proof fleece. What did you decide on? I'm in the market for the same thing. Bruce

You have gotten some great replies. Another thing to condider on the rig you choose. Running shallow rivers isn't all about just how shallow you can RUN, it's also all about how shallow you can start and shut down! If the rear end drops a lot when jumping up on plane, or when coming off plane you will have a lot more problems running shallow rivers. You want a balanced boat. This will help the boat dead drifting as well. The boat will draft less water.

Al. Very interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

Nice fish. Glad you had a good time, and good catching. I am a 37 yr employee at Sunnen Prod. Co. Matt & I had a good trip there earlier this year. I'm glad to see the lake is able to produce a nice fish or two. Sunnen Lake has been pounded on lately. Very heavy fishing pressure.